355bhp hot hatchback has massive performance but lacks the finesse of some rivals

What is it?

The Mercedes A45 AMG, the car most determined to push the boundaries of hatchback performance. To call it a radical departure from the AMG formula is something of an understatement.

It’s a transverse-engined hot hatch that directs its power to the front wheels by default and then sends up to 50 per cent of its torque to the rear axle when necessary. Furthermore, its engine is a 2-litre in-line four with a single twin-scroll turbocharger – a far cry from the large-capacity V8s of its stablemates. Prices start at £37,845.

Technical highlights?

That turbocharged 2-litre petrol engine is hand-built by one man, just like the 6.2-litre V8 in an SLS AMG Black Series or the 5.5-litre twin-turbo V8 in an E63. It produces an astonishing 355bhp at 6000rpm and 332lb ft from 2250 to 5000rpm, and drives through the seven-speed AMG Speedshift dual-clutch gearbox. With the help of a launch control system dubbed ‘Race Start’, the A45 scrabbles to 62mph in a claimed 4.6sec, considerably quicker than the process of engaging LC itself.

First, you put the car into Drive and hold it on the brakes. Next you press the stability control button once to engage its Sport mode, then switch the transmission to its manual mode. Now pull back on both steering-wheel gearshift paddles simultaneously until the dash display reads ‘race start available’. Then pull the right paddle again to confirm go, and then floor the throttle and release the brake when you’re ready to blast off.

The result – for us – was a 0-60 time of 4.3sec, with 0-100mph taking 10.6sec, numbers that are near-identical to ones recorded for the V8-powered E92 BMW M3. This accelerative force can be replicated over and over again, and is available despite a chunky kerb weight of 1480kg, some 85kg more than an Audi S3. And if you’re prepared to pay £1940 for the AMG Driver’s Package, the A45 will hurtle all the way to 168mph before the electronic limiter cuts in.

What’s it like to drive?

You start the engine and it booms into life and settles into an oddly flat idle that could only be a four-cylinder engine droning through large-diameter exhaust pipes. It’s ugly but somehow exciting and unapologetically workmanlike. You just know it’s ready to deliver a big brawny punch to your kidneys.

They won’t be the only organs that might get bruised by the A45, however, because the ride is seriously stiff, jiggling and jolting at low speeds so badly that even a Renaultsport Megane Cup owner would baulk at the discomfort. Incredibly, there’s an AMG Performance suspension option that we presume is even stiffer. Needless to say, don’t take it.

But if the bucking ride quality is initially off-putting, the drivetrain is anything but. The twin-scroll turbocharger ensures that the engine isn’t particularly laggy and there’s real fun to be had extending it beyond the richly torquey mid-range, for it seems to gain renewed energy over 5000rpm, and howls to 6500rpm with the ferocity you’d expect from 355bhp, while each upchange of the twin-clutch paddle-shift is accompanied by a bird-scarer bang!

The A45 is blisteringly quick everywhere, especially with the transmission left in the more aggressive Sport auto mode, in which the gearbox sheds ratios in response to even the smallest throttle pressures. But this isn’t a car that gives more than cursory rewards beyond the thrill of pure speed. The steering is heavy and responses are keen, but there’s no encouragement to go and find the massively high limits, let alone try and breach them.

The balance is predominantly mild understeer even when you select the looser AMG Sport ESP mode, which in theory makes the four-wheel-drive system keener to send power rearwards. In low- and medium-speed corners you won’t notice, and it feels like a front-driver with strong traction but without the sense of agility of the best. It’s more exciting through quicker turns, where you can feel the tail start to come into play. But you emerge from it certain it would be a more rewarding car to drive if it had less grip and a chassis that enabled you to explore its limits, even if that meant less straight-line pace.

How does it compare?

Its nearest foes are the rear-drive, 316bhp BMW M135i (priced from £30,845 though £31,375 as an eight-speed automatic equipped five-door to match the A45) and the all-wheel-drive, 296bhp Audi S3 quattro (£30,940 basic/£33,040 as a five-door auto).

Our hot hatch of the moment is the Volkswagen Golf R. It isn't quite as powerful as the mad Merc, but its ride quality is far less corrugated and has taken some high-profile scalps the last few times we've tested it - notably, the aforementioned BMW M135i in a recent hot hatchback battle, and the Renaultsport Megane Trophy R in our 2014 evo Car of the Year test. Pricing starts at £30,150, while an equivalent five-door, dual-clutch model runs to £32,220.

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Comments

Submitted by Geoff Dunne on Tue, 2014-10-21 15:09.

I can't help but feel that you are comparing apples with pears when you do the "How does it compare" element of your article. I have a 14 plate A45 AMG from new and I couldn't disagree more with much of your assessment of the car, I also feel that you are comparing it with cars that are simply....well.....not comparable! The Renault Megane? The VW Golf? The BMW and the Audi ok (just) but the A45 comes with just about everything you would ever need in a super hot hatch with that luxury feel although mine has the performance exhaust and the Harmon Kardon surround sound, the panoramic roof and one or two others, the price was £44K - how can a car at £25K or less be compared to this? Also, I don't know how you drive (I'm a 50 year old male) I like to push my car to the limits as often as conditions permit and I have to say, excitement, thrilling, hair-raising, are adjectives that spring to my mind, fun? What's that? The car oozes quality, it is built like no other hot hatch, the quality is unbelievable, comfortable on all but the worst road surfaces but hey.....cake and eat??? Also, performance wise, it knocks lumps off most - including the Porsche 911 Carrera, handling - you need to drive a car for some time to get the feel and vibe - I love mine and drive it hard with and without ESP, in Sport, manual and cruise modes, it never fails to take my breath away. The only thing I didn't like (initially) was the exhaust note, but after some 9000 miles it has evolved into a rich, deep throaty roar and has grown on me. The only other car so far that has out-performed mine, is a Maclaren P1 and at sub 3 seconds 0-62mph and a cool quarter of a million price tag - wouldn't you expect that? :-)

Submitted by James on Tue, 2014-11-11 13:19.

Geoff, your text proves interesting. To sum it up and put it to bed a TTRS will kill the A45 AMG in every possible situation/scenario/day of the week. Power, weight, speed 0-62, 0-100, quality, looks, noise. Sorry to burst your bubble.

Submitted by CrazyCol on Wed, 2014-12-03 08:44.

As a M135i owner I would be interested to know how fast this beast is without all the launch control gismos - the area my car is fantastic is it's ability to deliver a smile within 0.1 seconds of getting in the car. Oh and none of the competition can match the 6 cylinder engine, it's 3l capacity allows low boost hence less lag, instant torque when tootling around & of course sounds fantastic....and the auto box.....all for golf GTi money when spec/discounts are factored in.

Submitted by James on Wed, 2014-12-03 09:10.

Imagine owning a car that gives you a smile even before you get in it... I would be happy to satisfy your interest. But I agree your M135i is GTi money, not something that sparks my interest though. FYI the manufacturer "figures" for an s-tronic (mine) are all set WITHOUT the gismos. 3l capacity, wow a whole .5 more than the RS in the coveted, legendary Audi 5cyl. But the BM is heavier, less powerful and generally lower performing in every aspect in stock form not even factoring in what the RS turns into after a simple remap... As I say I'd hate for anyone to not get the chance to play with an RS, specially the TTRS. If there was a DM function I would offer you my details so that you could "try mine" or at least satisfy your interest against the 135i.

Submitted by Dan on Wed, 2014-12-03 09:58.

The performance on tap from this car is (without a doubt) impressive. I had the opportunity to sit inside one of these at MB World a few weeks back. The thing that surprised me the most was how cheap the dash looked and felt. I mean this is a £40k. I found the interior in my old M135i (circa 32k) much more attractive and premium.

Ignoring the cosmetics, I can definitely see the appeal of this car. Its quick and practical (for most... I found the roof line in the rear a little too low). What more do you want from Today's super hatch?!

Will be keen to see what the next RS3 will be like. And whether BMW will release a "proper" M hatchback!

Submitted by loomisluva on Wed, 2014-12-03 10:16.

Geoff you are completely wrong about this car. Having spent some time in this car, I can conclude that It has a horribly cheap interior with very poor plastics and an aftermarket glued on MMI screen, terrible for a £40k car. The auto box is terrible, even more so in the Diesel version. The ride is downright uncomfortable and jiggly. On the plus side, the engine is excellent but the rest of the car is a sorry let down at this price. The BMW M135i is a better car in every respect with the exception of outright performance. However, the Golf R beats both as has been proven in numerous comparison tests.

Submitted by Forrester on Fri, 2015-02-27 15:15.

I think Geoff has it spot on. If anyone thinks the current Audi TT is good looking I question pretty well anything else they write.

Submitted by Forrester on Fri, 2015-02-27 15:26.

Why would anyone pay £40K for a Skoda with two seats missing in the guise of the Audi TT. The A45 is sublime and a total thoroughbred by comparison. It's a full fat red blooded Mercedes AMG.

Submitted by Forresters_a_pr1ck on Fri, 2015-02-27 18:38.

Forrester, or should I call you "Joker" you probably have never and will never be able to or have afforded either car. If you think the TT is a skoda in a skirt and the wee little A class is a "full fat" anything then you really need to question your integrity as a human. Since owning both and now an M4 I can tell you out of the 2 little cars the TT eats the A class for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Here is my number 07920 327910 please contact me with your details and I will happily discuss further without your comments coming from behind a keyboard. Safe trip and don't let the door hit you too hard.

Submitted by Forrester on Fri, 2015-02-27 19:34.

Mine's an A45 Brabus stage 1. That should say something to anyone who know's anything about anything to do with cars. Thanks for the offer of pistols at dawn but most of us MB drivers are without pimples.

To clarify a couple thinks my boy sells Audis so I do not want his sales to drop and if they made the RS3 better looking I would consider one and my wife has a golf. Which is also the same chassis as the Skoda Rapid. The point is that the MB is an MB it's not a product differentiated VW. There's no point pulling the wool over our own eyes. The current TT and the Mk 2 is a lesson in how to destroy the stunning appearance of the Mk 1.

Submitted by Charlie Clark on Fri, 2015-02-27 20:20.

Well there certainly is some shite spoken in here, firstly it is a 'FULL FAT' AMG because it had a completely new bespoke hand assembled engine that had the highest bhp per litre of any production car, and before anyone says it the 360, 400 and 440 evos and scoobies weren't full production cars and had tuning parts added. The M4 in comparison has only around 40% Individual parts seperste from regular models as opposed to 80% with the E92 so if anything it's the M4 which isn't 'full fat'. Secondly it is a much better car than the M135i, I should know I have owned both. The bmw used to creak like made when coming down and turning on hills with the bodywork flexing, the steering wheel was huge and the same as any other bmw as were the seats, the door handles never fitted properly inside, and the silver trim used to mark if you so much as breathed on it, I went through 3 sets of exhaust tips because of them corroding and they look like McDonald's straws, the wheel hubs rusted as do all bmw's and the Estoril blue paint used to chip very easily. The body used to roll around corners and I'd say the main thing giving it even remotely close lap times to the A45 is the fact it is on pss were as the A45 is on either dunlops or contis, the AMG launches harder, corners far far better, grips better, sounds better through the exhaust and not needing the fake engine noise the bmw has pumped through the speakers and it doesn't look like a bread van. And finally the TTRS, it is in reality a 2 seater sports car not a hot hatch, it can't take a pram in the boot and it can't have kids simply stepping into the back doors when it's pouring of rain. It posts identical times to 60 mph as the A45 when tested independently and is only 1 sec faster than the A45 despite the A classes crap tyres round the Nurburgring.